Addiction is not just a personal struggle — it’s a family crisis, and in the context of pregnancy and early childhood, its impact can be deeply harmful and long-lasting. As a gynecologist committed to safe motherhood and healthy child development, I want to shed light on a critical yet often overlooked issue: the importance of deaddiction in close contacts of pregnant women and children under five years of age.

Why Focus on Relatives?

Pregnancy and early childhood are vulnerable stages in a family’s life. Even if the mother herself is not addicted, substance use by spouses, in-laws, or caregivers can significantly compromise the health, safety, and emotional well-being of both mother and child.

Here’s why deaddiction in relatives is crucial:

• Secondhand Smoke and Substance Exposure: Tobacco and alcohol use in the home environment increases risks of miscarriage, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and respiratory infections in infants.

• Emotional Stress and Domestic Conflict: Substance abuse often leads to tension, violence, or neglect — causing stress-related pregnancy complications and poor parenting.

• Negative Role Modeling: Children growing up around addiction are more likely to develop behavioral problems and become future users themselves.

• Obstruction in Maternal Care: Addicted relatives may hinder decision-making or delay access to timely care due to financial or behavioral instability.

Risks to Children Under 5 Years of Age

Children in this age group are highly impressionable, physically fragile, and dependent on caregivers. Substance abuse in households often leads to:

• Delayed immunization and malnutrition

• Neglect and developmental delays

• Increased risk of accidental poisoning or injury

• Poor hygiene and increased exposure to infectious diseases

Management & Support: A Family-Centered Approach

At our hospital, we believe deaddiction is not a separate medical service — it’s an essential part of maternal and child health.

Our integrated management includes:

• Confidential screening and counseling for relatives during antenatal visits

• On-site referral to deaddiction services

• Support groups and behavioral therapy

• Involving family members in safe care practices

We do not judge — we support. Our goal is to empower families to make choices that protect mothers and their babies.

Unique Hospital Initiative: Financial Incentives for Quitting Addiction

To further encourage positive change, our hospital has introduced a first-of-its-kind incentive scheme linked directly to maternity care:

Incentive Scheme
If the spouse or primary caregiver of the pregnant woman quits substance use (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, gutkha) during the course of antenatal care, we offer a __% deduction on the total maternity bill — covering pre, intra, and postpartum services.

This reward is not just monetary — it’s symbolic of our belief that healthier families deserve encouragement, not punishment.

How It Works:

• Screening at registration and during ANC checkups

• Voluntary commitment to quit

• Follow-up verification by counselor

• Bill reduction applied at the time of delivery discharge

Summary

Caring for a mother means caring for her environment. A healthy family system enhances pregnancy outcomes, reduces newborn complications, and ensures a nurturing space for early childhood development.

Addiction recovery is possible — and when it begins at the family level, especially during such a transformational phase like pregnancy, it can break the cycle for generations.

At our hospital with collaboration of SafeCure HealthCare Foundation, we are not only delivering babies — we are helping build stronger, healthier families.

If you or a loved one needs help quitting addiction, reach out to our team. Let’s walk this journey — together.